“It’s a horrendous time for Mrs. Hall. It’s every mother’s worst nightmare,” says Anna Madeley, 47, who plays her.
“She receives the news that (her son) Edward’s ship has been struck, and this happens right before Christmas, when Jimmy’s birthday is also coming up – a time when you desperately want good news and for everyone to be together…
It’s a difficult journey for her, and even though she tries to stay strong, that uncertainty starts to take its toll.”
“Mrs. Hall is like the mother of this surrogate family,” says Nicholas Ralph, 34, who plays James Herriot.
“She’s the middle point, and we all revolve around her. She helps everyone, fixes people’s problems, and looks after everybody. So, when she’s going through something very painful and emotional, you can’t help but empathise and want to do anything you can to take away some of that pain or burden… The whole family is affected, and you just want everything to be alright for her.”
“I think something that’s run through our show from the beginning, is the idea of being kind,” he adds.
“I think it was Robin Williams who said:‘Everybody’s going through their own battles that you have no idea about, so be kind’.
“You don’t know what people are going through.That’s a theme of the show, and it’s particularly strong in this year’s Christmas special – to be kind and to appreciate the people you have around you, your friends and family. Being grateful is also important, especially in a world with so much turmoil.” Of course, there’s also animal drama at the vet surgery – a young boy arrives with an abandoned fox cub, and Siegfried faces a difficult decision as to how to care for it. Meanwhile,Tristan gets involved with some pigeons, including a cantankerous fancier by the name of Enoch Sykes.
It’s this blend of beautiful animals, heartfelt human drama, and a stunning Yorkshire Dales backdrop that makes All Creatures Great and Small such a beloved, cosy watch – at Christmas, and always.
“I think it’s an annual reminder of what’s important,” says Shenton.
“All Creatures just always does it so well. It’s always so rich in its simplicity. It’s always about the things that matter, which is love, community, support.Those things never stop being relevant, and as humans, we never stop needing a reminder, unfortunately.
“I think that’s probably why it’s so popular.Amongst other things, the beautiful dales are gorgeous – all of it!”
“People often say it’s like a comfort blanket,” adds Ralph.
“They put it on, and for an hour or two, they can escape into another world – a world that’s a bit kinder, calmer, and gentler.
“So many people have also told me how they watch the show during difficult times. For example, one girl reached out to me saying that her mum was really ill, and what they would do as a family was get together, put on All Creatures, and watch it. For that hour, they could smile, laugh, and even cry together, depending on the episode.
“It’s incredibly special to be part of something like that.”
All Creatures Great and Small’s festive episode is on Channel 5 this Christmas.
108 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
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